Apparatus for preferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for preferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects ( 1 ), in particular in the field of medical technology, having at least one processing station ( 3 ) and one object carrier ( 2 ) for bringing the object ( 1 ) to the processing station ( 3 ), optionally through the processing station ( 3 ), and away from the processing station ( 3 ), is characterized in that the object carrier ( 2 ) has a code; that data concerning the object ( 1 ) and/or the handling or processing of the object ( 1 ) can be assigned to the code; and that the data can be read or retrieved by way of the code.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This invention claims prioity of a German patent application DE100 10 140.2-52 filed Mar. 3, 2000 which is incorporated by referenceherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention concerns an apparatus for preferably automatichandling and/or processing of objects, in particular in the field ofmedical technology, having at least one processing station and oneobject carrier for bringing the object to the processing station,optionally through the processing station, and away from the processingstation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Apparatuses of the generic type are known from a wide variety offields. Very generally, they are apparatuses used for handling and/orprocessing objects of any kind. The objects are delivered either to asingle processing station or to multiple processing stations, usually ina predefined sequence; processed therein; and then lastly transportedaway from the processing station, in which context different groups ofprocessing stations can be arranged one behind another.

[0004] Reference is made, purely by way of example, to EP 0 849 582 A2.This document discloses an apparatus for treating objects, in particularcytological or histological specimens, in which cytological orhistological specimens are delivered by way of an object carrier orbasket to an automatic stainer, the automatic stainer comprisingmultiple processing stations. Once the object has been delivered to theautomatic stainer, identification of the object or indeed of multipleobjects within the automatic stainer is no longer possible. Simultaneousprocessing of different specimens is therefore not possible with theknown apparatus, since there is a risk of mixing up different specimens.With the known apparatus is also not possible simultaneously to rundifferent staining programs with identical or different specimens, sinceno distinction can be made among the various specimens that are to bedifferently processed or stained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore the object of the present invention to configureand develop an apparatus for preferably automatic handling and/orprocessing of objects, in particular in the field of medical technology,in such a way that fully automatic operation is possible withunequivocal identification of the objects to be handled or treated. Inaddition, it should be possible to perform automatic program assignmentto the respective objects.

[0006] The aforesaid object is achieved by way of the features ofclaim 1. According to the latter, an apparatus of the generic type forpreferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects, inparticular in the field of medical technology, is characterized in thatthe object carrier has a code; that data concerning the object and/orthe handling or processing of the object can be assigned to the code;and that the data can be read or retrieved by way of the code.

[0007] What has been recognized according to the present invention isthat automatic program execution is possible only if the objects to behandled and/or processed can be unequivocally identified. For thatpurpose, the object carrier has a code assigned to it in unequivocalfashion; that code can by all means also be assigned to the objectitself. In the case of histological or cytological specimens, however,it is advisable to assign the code to the object carrier, so that theobject present thereon or therein is unequivocally identifiable by wayof the code applied to the object carrier.

[0008] Further according to the present invention, data concerning theobject and/or concerning the handling or processing of the object can beassigned to the code. In other words, the entire processing program canbe assigned by way of the code to the object carrier and thus to theobject, so that-also by way of the code-the entire program sequence iscontrollable. For that purpose, the data can be read or retrieved by wayof the code, so that the position and status of the object can beascertained or checked at any phase of processing. The prerequisite forautomatic program execution with unequivocal identification of theobject being processed or treated is created.

[0009] Specifically with regard to multi-stage processing, it isadvantageous if multiple processing stations are arranged functionallyand/or physically directly or indirectly after one another. In thecontext of such a functional concatenation of different processingstations, it is particularly important that the objects be unequivocallydetectable at each processing station, namely by way of the codeassigned to the object carrier and thus to the object.

[0010] The code assigned to the object carrier and thus to the objectcould be embodied as a mechanical code which in turn can be mechanicallyscanned and/or detected by way of a photoelectric barrier or the like.Upon passing through a processing station, that code, for example a lugmounted on the object carrier, could trigger a mechanically actuableproximity switch so that the presence of the object is recognized.

[0011] It is also possible for the code assigned to the object by way ofits object carrier to be embodied as a barcode that is opticallydetectable at the respective processing stations or elsewhere.Ultimately the barcode is read by way of a reader wand or a reading unitarranged in stationary fashion, thus again making possible unequivocalidentification of the object.

[0012] In very particularly advantageous fashion, the code is stored inan electrical, electromagnetic, or optical storage medium associatedwith the object carrier. In accordance with what has been stated above,the code can be read out from the storage medium so that in this respectas well, unequivocal identification of the object by way of the code ispossible. Concretely, the object carrier can have a transmitter unit andoptionally also a receiver unit; in very particularly advantageousfashion, the transmitter unit and optionally receiver unit associatedwith the object carrier can be a transponder. Any heretofore knownembodiments of commercially available transponders can be used in thiscontext; what is essential is that the transponder be activatable atdefinable locations, for example at the respective processing stations,in order to emit a signal or emit the code. Activation is usuallyaccomplished by way of an activation or excitation coil, whichaccomplishes both activation of the transponder to emit a signal andsignal transfer.

[0013] In the context of an advantageous exemplary embodiment, severalor all processing stations can have associated with them an excitationcoil, movable in the region of the processing stations, for activationof the transponder. It is also conceivable for each processing stationto have associated with it a separate excitation coil that is thenarranged in stationary fashion.

[0014] The transponder could be embodied as a read-only transponder oras a combined write/read transponder. In that context, it would beconceivable for the transponder to emit predefined code data or to beloadable with code data that it can emit after corresponding loading andafter activation. As already mentioned above, all variants ofcommercially available transponders can be used in the context of thepresent invention.

[0015] In terms of design, it is very particularly simple if thetransponder is immovably joined to the object carrier, the transponderpreferably being encapsulated so that any contamination of or damage tothe transponder is effectively prevented.

[0016] In particular when a wide variety of objects are being handled,it is advantageous if the transponder is configured in the form of amountable or attachable clip or the like, so that transponders withdifferent code data can be associated with the object carrier and thuswith the object. It would be possible in this case to work withtransponders loaded with predefined code data, in order to assigndifferent program sequences at the respective processing stations to therespective objects.

[0017] In light of the teaching of the present invention, it isadditionally advantageous if the transponder communicates with at leastone receiver, the receiver being understood as an electronic analysissystem/control unit. A receiver or corresponding electronic analysissystem/control unit can be associated with each excitation coil. It isalso possible, when multiple excitation coils are provided, for all ofthem to communicate with a single receiver. The receiver could in turncomprise a write/read unit so as on the one hand to receive data and onthe other hand to transmit data.

[0018] In additionally advantageous fashion, the receiver is connectedto a process computer and/or an electronic analysis system so that byway of the detected code it is possible not only to recognize theobject, but also to activate individual processing steps or processingoperations by way of the process computer. The position of the objectcan be checked or ascertained over the entire course of the processingsequence, and can even be incorporated into the process since the exactposition of the object being processed is known.

[0019] In principle, it is possible at any time for multiple receiversto be connected to a single process computer and/or to a singleelectronic analysis system; different receivers can by all means also beconnected to different process computers and/or different electronicanalysis systems. Individual adaptation to requirements is possiblehere, and it is certainly conceivable for different processing stationsor groups of processing stations also to have different processcomputers and electronic analysis systems.

[0020] It is furthermore possible for the receiver, considered ofitself, to have a processing station associated with it, a receiver oreven multiple receivers being associated with each processing station.

[0021] As already mentioned earlier, the code serves to identify theobject carrier and thus the object. It is furthermore possible to usethe code, in accordance with the positioning of the particular receiver,for position reporting or position determination of the object carrierand thus of the object. In addition, the code can be used to assign ahandling program or processing program, so that specific processing canalso be unequivocally assigned to a specific object, unequivocalidentification of the object once again being possible after processing.

[0022] Lastly, be it noted once again that the object can be ahistological or cytological specimen, and the object carrier can be abasket or the like receiving the specimen. Correspondingly, theprocessing stations could be stations of an automatic stainer forstaining histological or cytological specimens, all of the handling andprocessing of histological and cytological specimens and thecorresponding processing stations being controlled and monitored inaccordance with the description above, namely by the fact that aunequivocal code can be assigned to the object being processed, on theone hand for identification of the object and on the other hand forassignment of a processing program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] There are various ways of advantageously embodying and developingthe teaching of the present invention. Reference is made, for thatpurpose, on the one hand to the claims which follow claim 1, and on theother hand to the explanation below of exemplary embodiments of theinvention with reference to the drawings. In conjunction with theexplanation of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention withreference to the drawings, an explanation is also given of generallypreferred embodiments and developments of the teaching. In the drawings:

[0024]FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic depiction, the general manner ofoperation of an apparatus according to the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 2 shows, in a schematic depiction, the general manner ofoperation of a transponder that can be used in the context of theapparatus according to the present invention as an electronic codemedium;

[0026]FIG. 3 shows, in a schematic depiction and in part, an exemplaryembodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention, anautomatic stainer for histological or cytological specimens being showntherein, and the object carrier which bears a transponder being movedtherein past an excitation coil at the beginning of the program sequenceand thereby identified;

[0027]FIG. 4 shows, in a schematic depiction and in part, an exemplaryembodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention alsoconcerning an automatic stainer;

[0028]FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an apparatusaccording to the present invention concerning an automatic stainer; and

[0029]FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the apparatusaccording to the present invention concerning an automatic stainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030]FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic depiction, the general manner ofoperation of an apparatus according to the present invention forpreferably automatic handling and/or processing of objects 1, the latterbeing concretely a histological or cytological specimen which islocated, for processing, in an object carrier 2 that is merely indicatedin FIG. 1. Several of object carriers 2 are arranged in a rack 10.

[0031] A processing station 3 is also merely indicated in FIG. 3; atprocessing station 3, on the one hand object 1 or object carrier 2and/or rack 10 is identified, and on the other hand its presence isascertained.

[0032] According to the present invention, object carrier 2 or rack 10has a code, and data concerning object 1 and its processing can beassigned to the code. These data can be read or retrieved by way of thecode.

[0033] Concretely, the code is stored in an electromagnetic storagemedium associated with object carrier 2 or rack 10, specifically in atransponder 4 which is to be understood here as a combinedtransmitter/receiver unit.

[0034]FIG. 1 also shows in indicative fashion that an excitation coil 5for activation of transponder 4 is associated with processing station 3,excitation coil 5 being activatable via a control unit 6.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, transponder 4 is mounted onobject carrier 2 or on rack 10. Leaving aside the embodiment in whichtransponder 4 is mounted directly on object carrier 2, it is alsoconceivable, for example, for identification to be made not ofindividual objects but always of collections of objects 1, specificallyin socalled racks 10 which contain multiple object carriers 2 or objects1. Ultimately the histological or cytological specimens (objects 1) arelocated on object carriers 2; both object carriers 2 and the objectcarrier holders (i.e. the so-called racks 10) are identified withtransponder 4 which is located in the various processing stations 3.

[0036]FIG. 2 shows the basic manner of operation of a transpondersystem, for better comprehension of the teaching of the presentinvention. Transponder 4 shown therein is embodied as a combinedwrite/read transponder, and in the form of a clip mountable on objectcarrier 2. In addition, transponder 4 communicates by way of atransmission and reception path with a receiver 7, more precisely withan electronic analysis system/control unit that in turn is connected toa process computer 8 and an electronic control system 9. Althoughprocess computer 8 precedes electronic analysis system 9 in theembodiment selected here, it is certainly also possible for electronicanalysis system 9 to precede process computer 8. The program sequencecan thus be influenced (via process computer 8) by the detection ofobject 1, the electronic analysis system serving to process the detecteddata of the respective object 1.

[0037] Concerning the depiction in FIG. 2, be it noted with regard tothe manner of operation of a transponder system that excitation coil 5also simultaneously serves as a transmit/receive antenna. Excitationcoil 5 generates an excitation field. When an object equipped with atransponder comes into that excitation field, a voltage is induced in acoil provided in the transponder. The transponder thereupon sends a code(a sequence of numbers or digits) to electronic analysis system 9depicted in FIG. 1. That code is received by the same coil (excitationcoil) that generates the excitation field. Excitation coil 5 may thusalso simultaneously be referred to as a receive/transmit antenna. Thecode is processed by the downstream electronic analysis system 9, andassociated in a controller or processor with a program in such a waythat individual program steps can be activated or influenced.

[0038]FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according tothe present invention, here being concretely a partially depictedautomatic stainer for staining histological and cytological objects 1 orspecimens.

[0039]FIG. 3 shows a rack 10 for receiving an object or object carrier;at the beginning of the program sequence, rack 10 is moved by atransport system 11 past excitation coil 5, excitation coil 5simultaneously also serving as a receive/transmit antenna. Transponder 4clipped onto rack 10 is activated by excitation coil 5, so that it sendsto electronic analysis system 9 the code relevant to object 1 (notshown). It is thereby easily possible to identify object 1 or objectcarrier 2, or rack 10.

[0040]FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of a total of four containers 12 of apartially depicted automatic stainer, each container 12 and rack 10having associated with it a transponder 4 in the form of a transponderclip. A total of four excitation coils 5 serve, at processing stations 3or at correspondingly defined locations, to activate transponder 4,whereupon the activated transponder 4 forwards the code via excitationcoil 5 to electronic analysis system 9.

[0041] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, excitation coils 5are arranged above the respective loading stations. By way of anelectronic switchover system, the four excitation coils 5 can beconnected successively to an RF module so that racks 10 can beidentified by transponders 4 at very short time intervals and assignedto a specific program sequence. Data transfer takes place betweentransponders 4 and electronic analysis system 9, this being indicated inFIG. 4 by arrows.

[0042] In the further exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, once againfour containers 12 of an automatic stainer are depicted next to oneanother; here, a single excitation coil 5 is moved past the respectivestopping places of the object carriers by way of a special transportsystem 13 that is merely indicated here. The position of the objectcarriers or racks 10, and thus the position of the objects, can thus beunequivocally identified. Here as well, transponders 4 communicate withelectronic analysis system 9.

[0043] Lastly, FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of anautomatic stainer in which a separate excitation coil 5 and a completeelectronic analysis system 9 is provided for each rack 10 that is to beidentified. Here again, transponder 4 communicates via excitation coil 5with electronic analysis system 9, excitation coil 5 simultaneouslyserving as a receive/transmit antenna.

[0044] What is essential in the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 6is the fact that one excitation coil 5 is associated with eachprocessing station, and in turn a separate electronic analysis system 9is associated with each excitation coil 5.

[0045] In conclusion, be it noted very particularly that the exemplaryembodiments discussed above are provided merely for discussion of theteaching claimed, but do not limit it to the exemplary embodiments.

[0046] PARTS LIST

[0047]1 Object; histological or cytological specimen

[0048]2 Object carrier

[0049]3 Processing station

[0050]4 Transponder

[0051]5 Excitation coil; receive/transmit antenna

[0052]6 Control unit

[0053]7 Receiver

[0054]8 Process computer

[0055]9 Electronic analysis system

[0056]10 Rack

[0057]11 Transport system (for rack)

[0058]12 Container

[0059]13 Transport system (for excitation coil)

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for automatic handling andprocessing of objects comprising: at least one processing station; acarrier for transporting an object to said at least one processingstation and away from said at least one processing station, said carrierincluding a unique code; and a control unit for storing data inregistration with said code that are specific to said object andprocessing of said object; whereby said data can be retrieved using saidcode.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said object is amedical specimen.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein saidcarrier transports said medical specimen through said at least oneprocessing station.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein saidat least one processing station comprises a plurality of processingstations arranged in sequence.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 2,wherein said code is embodied as a mechanical code on said carrier thatcan be mechanically scanned and/or detected by way of a photoelectricbarrier.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said code isembodied as a barcode that is optically detectable.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein said code is stored in an electrical,electromagnetic, or optical storage medium associated with said carrier.8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said carrier includes atransmitter unit.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein saidcarrier further includes a receiver unit.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 9, characterized in that said transmitter unit and said receiverunit associated with the object carrier are provided in a transponderassociated with said carrier.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10,wherein said transponder is a read-only transponder.
 12. The apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein said transponder is a write/readtransponder.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprisingan excitation coil associated with said at least one processing stationfor activating said transponder.
 14. The apparatus according to claim13, wherein said at least one processing station comprises a pluralityof processing stations, and there is one said excitation coil for eachof said plurality of processing stations.
 15. The apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein said at least one processing station comprises aplurality of processing stations, and there is a single said excitationcoil movable in the region of said plurality of processing stations foractivating said transponder.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 10,wherein said transponder is immovably joined to said carrier.
 17. Theapparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transponder is removablyattached to said carrier.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 10,wherein said transponder is configured in the form of an attachable anddetachable clip.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 10, furthercomprising at least one receiver with which said transpondercommunicates.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 13, furthercomprising at least one receiver with which said transpondercommunicates.
 21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said atleast one receiver comprises one receiver per each said excitation coil.22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each said receivercomprises a write/read unit.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 20,further comprising at least one process computer to which said at leastone receiver is connected.
 24. The apparatus according to claim 23,wherein said at least one process computer is a single process computerto which all of said receivers are connected.
 25. The apparatusaccording to claim 20, further comprising at least one electronicanalysis system to which said at least one receiver is connected. 26.The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said at least oneelectronic analysis system is a single electronic analysis system towhich all of said receivers are connected.
 27. The apparatus accordingto claim 20, wherein each said receiver is associated with acorresponding processing station.
 28. The apparatus according to claim2, wherein said code serves to identify said carrier and thus saidmedical specimen carried thereby.
 29. The apparatus according to claim2, wherein said code is used for determining and reporting position ofsaid carrier and thus of said medical specimen carried thereby.
 30. Theapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said code is used to assign aprocessing program to said carrier and thus to said medical specimencarried thereby.
 31. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein saidmedical specimen is a histological or cytological specimen, and saidcarrier is a basket-like container receiving said medical specimen. 32.The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said at least oneprocessing station includes an automatic stainer for staininghistological or cytological specimens.